"Shouldn't we buy the prince a present?" She suggested.
Callahan contemplated about what Catherina said.
"Present.. alright. Shall we buy him one together?" He smiled
Catherina nodded.
"Prepare a carriage. We're going out." He said to the servant.
"Right away, young master."
Before they went out, Catherina changed her outfit into a warmer one first since it's almost winter.
.
.
.
"Be careful."
Callahan held her hand as she got off from the carriage.
They finally arrived at the store after few minutes of transportation.
"Welcome!" The woman in the front desk greeted them as they entered the building.
The two of them then separated and roamed around the store a bit to look for a suitable present for the prince.
While wandering, a certain product caught Catherina's eye.
"This one looks nice."
She took the fountain pen and the carving and design was beautiful to look at.
"Brother, will this do?"
Callahan looked at the fountain pen in her hand. "Okay. Let's have that."
"What will you give to him?" She asked.
"A dagger." Callahan smiled.
"Oh."
After they finished on deciding the gift, they paid for it and left the store without further ado.
"Mother."
"Callahan? Where have you been?" Their mother asked as she saw their appearance from the carriage.
"We went to buy something for the prince. It's his birthday tomorrow."
"Oh, right. How old is he again?"
"He's already twelve."
"I see. Rina, did you have fun?" Her mother opened her arms.
Catherina walked towards her and gave her a hug.
"Yes."
"Lovely. Let's head inside first." She carried Catherina in her arms again.
At this point, Catherina felt like a spoiled child.
But regardless of that, she loved the feeling.
.
.
.
"-Na.... Rina. Baby, it's time to wake up."
Catherina heard mother's soothing voice.
'What time is it?'
"Mommy?" She rubbed her eyes.
"It's time to prepare. You're going to the celebration, remember?"
"Mhm."
"Let's take a bath first. Larah, prepare the bathtub."
"Yes, madame." A maid responded.
There was something different.
From the novels Catherina read in her past life, she noticed that the lady-in-waitings are usually the ones who serve a noble's child.
But in her case, it was her mother who took care of her personally.
'Maybe it's because I'm still a child.'
"There! You're all ready. Goodness why are you so cute? What if the prince falls for your cuteness? I'll never give you to others even if they're a royalty."
Catherina wore a pastel colored dress with a coat. The image in the mirror had a cute girl in it.
*Knock* *Knock*
"Rina?" Callahan's head peeked inside the door.
'Cute.' Catherina giggled.
"Brother."
Callahan's eyes widened when he saw his sister's appearance.
'Is there something wrong?'
"Mother-! What have you done to Rina?! She's so adorable! I'm having second thoughts about bringing her to the palace right now..."
"You're right. Maybe you shouldn't bring Rina with you."
"But we would be disobeying the royalty."
"It won't hurt to disobey the imperial family once right? Should we just commit treason and have an open rebellion? And my patience towards that empress is coming to an end already." Mother's expression darkened.
Callahan suddenly made an 'oh, right' face.
"The father can just lead the imperial knights since he's the commander."
'What?!
Are they serious...?'
"Mommy.. is there going to be a war?"
Callahan and her mother flinched when they heard Catherina's voice. They were surprised.
"Oh my goodness, I'm sorry you had to hear that baby. It was nothing." She knelt and hugged her.
"Mother is right. It was nothing." Callahan concurred with a smile.
Mother gave Catherina one last kiss on the cheek. "I hope you have fun. If you feel uncomfortable, just tell your brother and go home immediately."
"Okay." She responded.
"We'll get going first, mother."
"Take care of Rina. And you too."
After saying our farewells, Callahan and Catherina went directly to the castle via riding a carriage.
*Tak* *Tak*
She could hear the steps of the horses and the wheels of the carriage moving.
The window was closed and she just stared at the view outside.
"Brother, can you open the window?"
"Of course."
Callahan opened the window and a fresh breeze greeted her face.
"Whew..." Catherina sighed, still staring at the view outside.
'This world is really different from my past life.'
Various thoughts came into mind while the ride was ongoing. She remembered her life on earth.
Few moments later, she heard the horses neigh and the ride came to a stop.
"Come here, Rina."
Catherina held Callahan's hand and got off from the carriage.
She was back at the same place where the empress lived. Where the royalties live.
She shrugged off those negative thoughts and concentrated on the celebration instead.
'I hope the empress won't be present there..'
.
.
.
"Welcome, child. It's been some time right? You look pretty as always."
'Why...'
The red haired woman chuckled as she patted her head. Of all times, they had to bump into her before they arrived at the celebration area.
"Thank you, your majesty." Catherina curtsied.
"Hmm. I hope you enjoy my son's birthday." She added.
"Yes.."
"We'll get going now, your majesty." Callahan interrupted and held her hand.
"Alright. Enjoy."
The empress finally left.
Catherina sighed in relief and so did Callahan.
After that, they walked towards where the party was held.
*Creak*
As they entered the room, they saw a lot of people inside.
Mostly, the people inside were youths who were in the same age as the prince.
"Callahan!"
A red haired boy called out her brother's name as he approached them.
"Your highness." Callahan bowed.
Catherina mimicked Callahan's gesture and bowed as well.
"No need for the formalities. Is that your sister?" He cast his sight towards her.
"Greetings-"
"Yes, she is." Callahan put Catherina behind him.
"Hey, don't keep her to yourself. I wanna see her too-!"
The crown prince approached Catherina closer and looked at her like she was a thing in a museum.
"Woah.. she's so cute. My name is Stephen. Hey. Do you wanna be my sister?"
Stephen Alexander... Red hair from the empress and golden eyes from the emperor.
He really is the second lead in the otome game that Catherina played few years ago..
"No way, your highness. Rina is mine." Callahan carried her.
"Wha- I wanna carry her too! Let me carry her. Just once." Stephen pleaded.
"Brother-"
"Rina, wasn't it? You can call me brother too." He smiled at Catherina.
"Don't call her that, your highness." Callahan glared at him.
The prince and her brother were really close despite of being rivals in terms of love in the future.
Catherina figured that they were good friends before the game started.
The place was large and colorful. The windows were huge and there were decorations all around the place.
Whilst the prince and her brother were arguing, she cast her sight outside the window.
There Catherina saw the same tower which she last when she visited here.
'How curious...'